Gary Hyche & Lisa Lovett
Renovating a live/work building in Avondale

"I like the idea of living above my workspace.  It's convenient and I don't have to fight traffic."
               - Gary Hyche

Fifteen years ago, Gary Hyche moved his buisness and his home into a rented building in a crumbling section of downtwon Birmingham.  He then watched as a neighborhood blossomed into Birmingham's downtown art and design district.

More than a decade later, when Hyche and his wife Lisa Lovett went searching for a building to house their family, and Hyche's homebuilding and remodeling company, Gemcraft Inc., he wanted to find the next "up and coming" neighborhood.

"I wanted more space, I wanted to buy something and I wanted to be part of the revitalization," said Hyche.  He settled on a handsome shell of a building on 41st Street in downtown Avondale.  When the walls and floors are rebuild, Hyche and his wife and daughter plan to move in upstairs, and Gemcraft will rent the downstairs for a shop and office space.  With a growing number of artists and craftsmen now living and working in Avondale, Hyche is optimistic this time he's poised to profit for the city's next great arts district.

Main Street Birmingham, Inc. assisted Hyche in identifying and securing low interest loans through the City of Birmingham.  Without the help Hyche says, "I probably would not have jumped on it, because this is buying us the time to get the building renovated and sell our home."